Anda’s eyes blinked open. As the room came into focus, several things hit her at once.
The pain in her leg was dull, but it wasn’t the pain she’d first felt after being shot. Since she still felt a little fuzzy, she thought part of that dullness might be any medication Ethan must have given her.
She was in a hospital bed, but not in a hospital. She recognized it as a ship’s med bay.
Ethan was seated at a desk just feet away, his head propped on his hand, his eyes closed. He looked exhausted, even in sleep. She wished he would have rested with her in bed, but she knew it would be too dangerous if anyone walked in and saw them together. Their love was still a secret.
Nothing had gone to plan today. Or yesterday. What day was it? What time was it? She wasn’t sure how long she’d been passed out as there wasn’t a clock or watch nearby to tell her.
What should have been a routine mission had turned out to be anything but. Yet she’d gotten the information she needed, even if the cost had been a little bit of her blood.
She’d taken the mission because the information was essential to a future mission she’d undertake, one only she and Marcello knew about, but one which she’d now have to share with Ethan. This wasn’t the first time she’d been hurt since they’d gotten together—over a year ago now—but it had been the most serious.
Another reason she’d taken this mission was because she’d known Ethan’s ship would be docked near the location. If something happened and she needed extraction, his ship would be the first called. The other Vallerian armed forces were nowhere near close enough on land to help her. Only he would be.
And he had. As soon as she’d made the call and reported she’d been injured, he’d shown up maybe ten minutes later with a small team, and had extracted her and moved her out in another ten. It was surprising to see him on the ground—she’d assumed she’d see him only on the ship—but he was able to do some triage that obviously helped her.
“How are you feeling?”
She turned her head on the pillow and caught his even gaze. Ethan said a lot with his eyes, and she didn’t think he realized just how much he gave away. Right now, he was holding all his anger and emotion in check to make sure she was fine first. It was another reason she loved him. Though she was a beloved actress, no one had ever put her and her well-being first.
The public loved her persona but not the real person behind it.
He did though. He was the only one who ever truly lovedher, whether that was as an actress or an agent. He might be the only one who ever knew who she really was inside, and he seemed to accept her for it.
“I’m feeling good. Did you give me a pain killer?”
“Yes. Are you still hazy?”
“A little.”
He stood and dragged a hand over his face, as if waking himself up, and walked over to her. He lifted up the bedsheet and checked the dressing on her wound.
Though there were bound to be other medical personnel on board, he would have ensured he was the only one taking care of her, even though he knew he’d have to slip into ‘doctor mode’ around her when he really wanted to be in ‘boyfriend mode’ instead.
“How bad was it?”
“You were unbelievably lucky. The bullet passed straight through muscle, missed the bone, arteries, anything serious.” He stayed professional—his doctor’s coat was on, after all—and gave her a quick exam and made some notes in her chart.
When he finished, he glanced around the curtain obscuring them, probably to ensure the med bay doors were still locked—knowing Ethan, he would have locked the doors as soon as they were left alone—then he took off his doctor’s coat and set it aside. He turned to her and kissed her hard.
“Fuck, Anda. You scared the shit out of me.”
She cupped his cheek and gave him a little smile. “I’m okay.”
She could see the thoughts running across his eyes, but he didn’t speak a single one for a long minute.
“Few know you’re on board as it would raise too many questions. We’re on our way back to Valleria now and we’ll try to sneak you off once we dock.”
She nodded. This was par for the course. Even if someone did recognize her, it was rare that anyone would believe the famous Anda Salamanca would have gotten shot in the leg for any reason, much less on a spy mission.
“Once we’re in Masillia, I’ll take you to the Naval hospital there. There’s a special wing for royals or other visiting dignitaries that will ensure your privacy.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea. It might raise too many questions.”
“You need medical care, and I’m going to make sure you get it. Please don’t fight me on this.”
She tried to imagine if he’d been the one hurt, and what she’d do to help him. The answer: absolutely anything. She couldn’t fault him for doing the same.
